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Umama Fatima, former spokesperson and coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student movement, has called for a complete ban on political activities by all parties — including leftist, right-wing, and Islamic groups — within Dhaka University’s Kabi Sufia Kamal Hall.
However, she has alleged that her statement has been misrepresented by several media outlets.
In a letter sent to the provost of Kabi Sufia Kamal Hall on Friday (August 8), a group of students led by Umama Fatima wrote, “We secured a commitment from the hall administration through a collective movement on July 17 last year that all forms of student politics — including Chhatra League, Chhatra Dal, Shibir, BAGCHAS, etc — would be banned in the hall.”
The letter also mentioned this agreement between the administration and general students has been in effect for the past year, which is now being violated.
"However, some organisations have recently resumed their political activities in secret. As a result, the Chhatra Dal hall committee was announced on August 8. We believe this violates the agreement established through last year’s July movement, and betrays the trust of general students.”
Following the letter, several media outlets, including Daily Janakantha, reported that Umama Fatima had called for a ban on all political groups except the left, quoting her as saying: “Umama Fatima wants all parties except the left to be banned in the hall.”
Speaking to UNB on Saturday (August 9) afternoon, Umama denied the claim, stating: “My statement has been distorted in the headlines and photo cards published by Janakantha and other outlets. The journalists have twisted my words. The left is not even a factor in Sufia Kamal Hall — there’s no one here who is actively involved in leftist politics.”
Clarifying further, she said: “In the statement submitted to the Provost Sir, we clearly wrote that all forms of politics should be banned in Sufia Kamal Hall.”
She alleged that despite the ban, activists from several student organisations have continued operating under the radar. “Even before this, members of one organisation installed water filters and chandeliers in the hall. In the case of the chandelier, the Proctor’s Office called the hall authorities and instructed them to approve it.”
“Although hall politics is officially banned, the university administration is indirectly endorsing all types of political activities,” Umama claimed.
In response to her remarks, Sakibunnahar Tamanna, president of Islami Chatri Sangstha at Dhaka University, rejected the allegations.
She said DU Chhatri Sangstha has not been involved in any such activities. There are many students in the hall — I don’t understand why our organisation’s name is being dragged into this.
Meanwhile, on the same night, an online portal named Mirror News published a photocard quoting Umama as saying, “Shibir should publish all hall committees and the Chhatra Dal committee should be cancelled.”
In response, Umama clarified: “I never said Shibir should publish any committee. My point was that those involved in hidden political activities don’t reveal their identities. It’s the administration’s responsibility to identify such students. Student politics at the university must go through reconciliation.”
She further expressed her frustration: “Everyone has a problem with me. If I raise the issue of secret politics, it becomes a problem for Shibir. If I mention committees, it becomes a problem for Chhatra Dal. And if I call for a ban on student politics, the leftists take issue.”
“I’ve decided to take legal action against all of them. I’m not doing this for DUCSU or any political ambition — I’m doing it in the interest of the university’s students,” Umama added.